"I have known Deve Gowda Ji since the time he was the prime minister. We must congratulate his party. As a regional party they have done well. I have always said that we must take the regional parties into confidence. They will be the kingmakers," Banerjee told media persons in Kolkata.

Throwing her weight behind the Congress - JD (S) alliance, the Trinamool Congress supermo said, "I came to know from some media reports that Governor (Vajubhai Vala)has invited BJP. I think there is precedence of single largest party not being invited to form government in Manipur and Goa so we must give respect to our democratic set- up."

Earlier in the day, Banerjee was one of the first regional satraps to speak out over the Karnataka results. "For those who lost, fight back. If Congress had gone into an alliance with the JD (S), the result would have been different. Very different," she claimed in her tweet.

Congratulations to the winners of the Karnataka elections. For those who lost, fight back. If Congress had gone into an alliance with the JD (S), the result would have been different. Very different

Sending out a message for the grand old party of India, Banerjee emphasised on the need for national parties to recognise the significance of regional players in the evolving political scenario.

"India is a vast country. Every state has their own identity. National parties have to consider the regional aspiration and regional expectation of the people. Both Congress and BJP must realise this," she said.